Resources for Volunteer Management

Each volunteer hour in 2023 = $31.80 (The Independent Sector)

If you recruit volunteers, coordinate events, or manage a nonprofit, consider the benefits of the Volunteer Engagement Training Program (VETP), developed by Points of Light and its HandsOn Network affiliates like Volunteer Alexandria.

Upcoming Lunch and Learn Sessions for Volunteer Coordinators

March 20th - Skilled Volunteer Engagement: Using Specialized Talent

Tap into the potential of skilled volunteers to advance your organization’s goals. Learn how to identify, recruit, and effectively engage volunteers with specialized talents in areas such as IT, marketing, and finance.

April 17th - Volunteer Engagement Training Program Speed Training

In this dynamic and fast-paced session, dive into essential volunteer management topics, including creating meaningful roles, crafting compelling descriptions, and building targeted recruitment strategies. Perfect for both new and experienced coordinators.

May 15th - Incorporating Youth Volunteers and Service Projects

Engage the next generation of changemakers! This session will cover how to design impactful opportunities for youth volunteers, including tips for tailoring service projects to their unique skills and energy.

Virginia Volunteerism Summit, May 14-15

Early bird tickets are now available for the 2025 Virginia Volunteerism Summit, taking place virtually May 14-15 with follow-up in-person SERVE Convenings in June!

The Virginia Volunteerism Summit is the Commonwealth’s leading event for organizations and individuals making a difference in their communities. The theme for the 2025 event is “Empowering Service, Elevating Impact: The SERVE Framework in Action.”

Our keynote speakers for the 2025 Virginia Volunteerism Summit will include Dr. Akilah Watkins, president and CEO of Independent Sector, and Manu Meel, CEO of BridgeUSA.

With over 25 years as a national thought leader, community organizer, and nonprofit executive, Dr. Watkins’ expertise spans leadership development, nonprofit advocacy, and community development. To read Dr. Akilah Watkins’ full bio, please click here.

Manu Meel is currently building the largest and fastest-growing student movement to bridge our differences and change how we talk about politics. He also hosts the weekly podcast, The Hopeful Majority. To read Manu Meel’s full bio, please click here.

Participants will also engage in workshops to learn best practices, co-create new ideas, and engage in spreading passion and inspiration throughout the sector. Plus, attendees will be the first to hear insights from the 2025 Virginia Community Engagement Index and the 2025-2027 Virginia State Service Plan!

Buy discounted early bird tickets!

Volunteer Management Guides

Review our Managing Volunteers at a Nonprofit Organization to help you get started and run your program.
toolkit Engaging Virtual Volunteers - Recruit, Ready, and Retain a Powerful Pool of Talent
Be sure to become a member of the Northern Virginia Association of Volunteer Administrators (NVAVA). VAVA promotes professionalism in volunteer administration, offers educational opportunities for members, and provides a forum for the mutual exchange of ideas. t also provides networking opportunities among members and increases awareness and cooperation among organizations that utilize volunteers. Earn more about NVAVA and register your organization.

Organizations

Points of Light Institute: hosts National Volunteer Week and a national conference. Website: http://www.pointsoflight.org/
Virginia Governor’s Volunteerism and Community Service. Website: https://servevirginia.org/

Online resources

Energize, Inc., www.energizeinc.com. Susan J. Ellis's site, "especially for leaders of volunteers." Includes a volunteer management bookstore, library, referral network, job bank, monthly essays with responses welcomed, etc.
E-Volunteerism, www.e-volunteerism.com. This “electronic journal of the volunteer community" is edited by Susan J. Ellis and Steve McCurley. It includes articles, discussion groups, and other information on volunteer management.
Service Leader’s Virtual Volunteering Project, www.serviceleader.org/virtual. The Virtual Volunteering Project provides resources for two kinds of volunteer services: Technical Assistance, which includes online research or providing particular expertise to the agency; and Direct Contact, which connects the volunteer and client via email, chat room, or other media.
Volunteer Today, www.volunteertoday.com. Managed by volunteerism consultant Nancy Macduff, this site is an electronic gazette for volunteerism. Particularly helpful is the current news in the field and a calendar of events.